Police: Joanna Dennehy is a 'sadistic' serial killer

Det Ch Insp Martin Brunning, who led the investigation into three murders and two attempted murders committed by Joanna Dennehy last year, has issued the following statement after two accomplices were convicted of aiding her crimes.

This has been one of the largest and most complex investigations in my 20 years' experience.

Three men were brutally murdered in Peterborough and two men were stabbed in West Mercia. Today their killer and her willing accomplices have now been brought to justice.

Joanna Dennehy is a sadistic 'serial killer' with a fearsome personality. She manipulated these men into doing things she wanted. I am relieved she is facing a substantial period of time behind bars.

The actions of Dennehy and those who helped her have had a devastating impact on the families of those killed and the surviving victims.

Two of the victims will live with what Dennehy has done for the rest of their lives. I hope today's convictions will provide them, and their families, with some closure.